Anchored one night successfully in Fisherman's and dragged in the morning while sipping coffee. The anchor cut through the mud like a knife. She slowly dragged... ploughing through the mud, zigzagging backwards to shore with each tack. I think as she tacks through the wind at anchor she releases her hold, then resets again. Her track line followed her tacks perfectly. I'm going to try a fellow boater's CQR and see if the swivel design keeps the anchor down better. As the boat tacks the CQR shaft is suppose to follow but the anchor head stays down (at least in theory).
Lopez Island is utterly beautiful. The marina has a 10 person hot tub that overlooks the water and clean showers (if they were heated it would be even better). A short ride from the Island Marine Center is a spit with a deserted public beach (at least in winter), an estuary and bike trails through the woods. Town is a short ride away as well. There is a great organic store there called Blossoms and a huge new grocery store with it's own large organic section.
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I'd be interested in a description of your ground tackle.
-Reid
Cupcake has a 10KG or 22lb Rocna, 120 feet of high text 1/4'chain (90lbs) and 150' of line. I was in 20' of depth (10 was from tide) and had out 140 feet (about 20 ft of line). The Rocna does not have a lot of metal under the mud... maybe it's a problem with the smaller sizes?
7 to 1 scope should have been more than adequate, especially with 90 pounds of chain. Of course you need to measure depth from the bow roller, so your effective scope may have been more like 5 to 1 so mane you needed a little more.
The Rocna is designed for a fast deep set, so that was not a likely problem. I know you wouldn't pile the chain on top of the anchor, which is about the only way you could have screwed up the set.
You only had 20' of nylon out, so you didn't have much shock absorption. But Fisherman Bay is so protected that you wouldn't have any significant wave surge. Something to think about, though.
Also the flukes on the Rocna don't angle up at the back like some anchors, so I can see how the Rocna might be prone to smoothly slicing through mud with little resistance. If that's what was happening, I can't think of any way to fix it other than carrying a special mud anchor.
I'm no anchor expert, but those are my thoughts.
-Reid
Hi Bonnie
I was just about to fork out for a Rocna 10 but I think I'll wait to see how your CQR test works. It would be nice to figure out a way to stop the swing. Some people hang a 5 gal. bucket off the rode just below the waterline but that could be problematic if you had to pull up in a hurry. Thanks by the way for your web site, we picked up a 2005 last January and have enjoyed your posts. Lots of good info.
Rob
Hi Rob and Reid,
Some cruisers on the dock felt the problem could have been that the Rocna has less bulk under the mud. Also one man who has cruised Alaska for 30 years didn't like how easily the Rocna fall to the side allowing it to slice backwards easily.
The CQR would require a ton of modifications to fit on Cupcake because of it's long bulky shaft- I would need a custm bow roller so weight of anchor wasn't too far forward on lever arm... Or move windlass back. No way to hold it down so that in rough waters it stayed put. Also it would only tell me about this particular bottom. So that test didn't seem worth it.
An Alaskan fisherman said he uses the cheap knock off
lewmar claws. A 33 lb lewmar claw for $100 would fit on Cupcake because the shaft is short. He has a 44 lb anchor on his 28 foot sailboat. His
28 foot noat is twice as heavy as mine so she tacks less. Sadly I can't fit the 44lb. In the end the fisherman said it's mostly about anchor size.
The 33lb is rated for a 36-40
foot boat. The fisherman said he thought that was the best thing to try before messing with a new bow roller.
Sorry for all the typos. On ipad.
Regarding the problem with swing while anchored, maybe you should consider a riding sail. It is a small sail that hangs on the backstay with a line tied forward. The size and fit aren't critical, so you can just pick up a cheep used sail. I haven't tried one, but I'd like to. Here's an article with more details:
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-maintenance-articles/20081-using-riding-sails.html
-Reid
p.s. Autocorrect got me in my first message. "Mane" should have been "maybe".
More on CQR - I would try the CQR but even the 25lb one was a very bad fit on Cupcake. The claws are suppose to set well... I always do at least one mini set at about 3 to
1 and with the claw I may do another mini set at 5 to 1 and then 7 to 1 and then bring up the scope I don't need if it's crowded- once the claw is really set. I would love to get the 33lb CQR but even the 25 is a mess on Cupcake. but the 33 lb claw only needs a wooden wedge and some line to hold it down. Prbably the best optin would be the 15kg Rocna but I don't want to spend the money on that test. The waters I sail in get really churned up by gobs of summer boaters.
Re anchor sails. I bought one 2 years ago and Cupcake still sailed all over the place. She has a split backstay so I got het one designed for that. It helped a little.
I did not have it up here. I did have it up once before when I dragged. Same sitaution... Winds gusting to 20. I also did not have her two kettle balls down this time nice I now have 90 lbs of chain.
I think a large 33lb claw is worth the $100 to try and it will me a send anchor. The fisherman said it takes some time to get a good set but then he's finished.
I assume your anchor sail was rigged to sit midway between the backstays, was tied to the mast, and was reasonable taut. I also wonder if it might have been too small to counteract the windage of the forward freeboard.
Do you keep your dinghy on the foredeck? Maybe moving it aft would help. Does your bow roller run straight fore and aft, or is it cocked at an angle? An angled bow roller might require an offset anchor sail.
As I said, I haven't had experience with this, so these are just thoughts that might be worth expiring when you talk to people who know more than I do.
Hi Bonnie
I've been doing a bit of reading up, this seems like a good site, http://yachtpals.com/how-to
and I think I will try the 33lb lewmar claw with apropriate scope and drop the 22lb straight down from the bow to use as a swing preventer in heavier weather. The bridle idea also seems like it could work along with rudder placement for lighter air. I think the C28 being a light boat combined with the roller furling is the problem. A nice tight rap on the genoa may help with windage as well. Every boat is different and I'm sure you will figure something out. Let us know when you do.
Cheers Rob
Hi Rob,
Are you dr ping. The 22lb on a separeTe line with it's one chain or using it on on shackle . Do you haven two anchors set inline? Can you explain your idea a bit better? Would dr ping two 10pm Kellet balls down at end of rode do the same?
I have been reading great thinkgs about the fortress!
I was thinking I could hang it off the bow pulpit. Strap it on. Ugly hanging there but it seems to be holding for people.
How about a fortress that is sized for a 36 or so boat? They are so light I could lift it.
Thanks for the link. I will look there.
Sorry about spell check taking over. IPad is hard to type on. That word was "dropping"
I do have two 10 pound Kellet balls I could drop down after a set.... Enough to stop swing????
Sorry about spell check taking over. IPad is hard to type on. That word was "dropping"
I do have two 10 pound Kellet balls I could drop down after a set.... Enough to stop swing????
Hi Bonnie
No I'm not Dr Ping just Rob. Those keyboards in the Iphones are tiny and with my spelling, a hopeless act for me. If I got a 33lb claw I would try dropping the old 22lb claw on a separate rode tied of to a forward cleat and some how arranged it to prevent chafing, maybe a bridle setup. The kellet should have a similar effect I would think although possibly less friction on the sea bed. It may need to be adjusted throughout the day to the tide levels. If you try the kellet and it doesn't work all that will happen is you will have a wet line and kellet. Then try plan b c d. Good luck
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